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Utilitarian Qubit, Human Geography, and Pandemic Preparedness in the 21st Century

Author

Listed:
  • Chidinma U. Iheanetu

    (Biotechnology Innovation Centre and Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa)

  • Kelly A. Maguire

    (Biotechnology Innovation Centre and Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa)

  • Valéria Moricová

    (Department of Crisis Management, Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Žilina, Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia)

  • Roman Tandlich

    (Biotechnology Innovation Centre and Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
    Department of School Pedagogy and Psychology, DTI University, Sládkovičova 533/20, 018 41 Dubnica Nad Váhom, Slovakia)

  • Sergio Alloggio

    (Independent Scholar and External Associate, Disaster Management and Ethics Research Group (DMERG), Grahamstown 6140, South Africa)

Abstract

Human actions are ambivalent in nature and this in turn has an impact on all components of socio-ecological systems. Their ambivalence results from the fact that human actions have both positive and negative outcomes and properties, which occur and manifest concurrently in the ontological realm of human existence. In terms of space–time, both micro-geography and macro-geography of human existence are intertwined during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus affecting pre- and post-pandemic space–time continuum. The utilitarian qubit can be used to describe the nature of human existence, i.e., Homo sapiens has always been experiencing a state of existence where pain and pleasure are co-extensive. In this state, it is impossible to establish to what extent pain, and to what extent pleasure, will have a definitive impact on our status as individuals and humanity as a species. In this article, the authors explore how the record of an individual’s life before and after the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacted by the wellbeing and actions of other humans and prior to one’s existence. Drawing on the utilitarian qubit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on the members of Homo sapiens , can be understood as a partial outcome of the cumulative actions of humanity on the biosphere and other elements of the global ecosystem (the Age of the Anthropocene). We argue that this paper is also useful to foster disaster preparedness and resilience in the pandemic and post-pandemic era, at micro- and macro-geographical interfaces of human existence in the 21st century. The existence of individual members of Homo sapiens and humanity as a species is unfolding at the boundary between two levels: fundamental reality and situational reality. The result is the historical accumulation and ontological interconnectedness of humanity’s activities with one’s own actions. Pain and pleasure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Age of Anthropocene, as well as the right and wrong consequences of humanity’s actions, are posited here to be symptoms of the Anthropocenic (phase of) epidemiological transition .

Suggested Citation

  • Chidinma U. Iheanetu & Kelly A. Maguire & Valéria Moricová & Roman Tandlich & Sergio Alloggio, 2022. "Utilitarian Qubit, Human Geography, and Pandemic Preparedness in the 21st Century," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-27, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:321-:d:1014517
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chidinma Iheanetu & Roman Tandlich, 2022. "Between science, science-fiction and COVID19 as a way to interpret the ontological realm of COVID19. Humanity in the post-COVID19 and re-application of knowledge," Academicus International Scientific Journal, Entrepreneurship Training Center Albania, issue 26, pages 27-46, July.
    2. Christopher C. Liu & Matt Marx, 2020. "Micro-geography: a fundamental organizing attribute," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(8), pages 837-841, September.
    3. Zhangcai Yin & Wei Huang & Shen Ying & Panli Tang & Ziqiang Kang & Kuan Huang, 2021. "Measuring of the COVID-19 Based on Time-Geography," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-19, September.
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